Snow Skills at Robert Lodge

Nelson Lakes National Park

Grade: Medium

Event Status: Completed

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From Saturday 12 August 2023
To Sunday 13 August 2023

Cost: $20

Description

The Snow Skills at Robert Lodge trip has been postponed from July to August to provide better snow skills training snow conditions. There is an additional charge of $20 for the lodge ($15 for children); $40/35 all up for those from Nelson/Richmond.

Objectives: 1) learn/enhance snow skills and knowledge; 2) have fun!   Read the trip report for 7/9/19; it will give you a good idea of the trip.

Assemble at Mt Robert car park at 0830. Welcome talk, objectives, and introduction of instructors and other participants.                                     Sort into groups; about four trainees per instructor. A mix of skill levels in each group is good. Hand out gear to those who require it; pay/collect hire charges. Examine ice axes and crampons (attached to boots), and make any necessary adjustments.

Head up Pinchgut to the tops. Trainees can swap to other groups to suit their pace.   At the first suitable slope, stop for instruction and practice. Include self-arrest instruction and practice; with nothing, with ice axe, with a walking pole, wearing crampons. As we proceed up, and over into the basin, we can instruct and practice as we encounter suitable slopes. 
Techniques to practice: 
Climbing, traversing and descending on easier slopes boots only (no ice axe or poles), with axe, with poles, crampons only, crampons and ice axe, crampons and pole(s). Progress to practicing on steeper slopes using flat foot (French) techniques until trainees are confident. 
Practice on different types of snow/ice. 
Front point techniques. 
Combined techniques. 
Efficient step plugging, and cutting steps. 
Rapid descending in various conditions, including glissading techniques where appropriate. 
Basic Avalanche assessment and avoidance. 
Other objective hazards. 
Assessing what is safely doable, and what is not.
Route finding.
Rotating the lead, and efficient travel.
Anything else. Lunch on the slopes if conditions are clement, otherwise down at the lodge.

On arrival at the lodge, unlock and carry out setup procedures with assistance, safety and housekeeping briefing.

Continue instruction and practice after lunch, and on Sunday morning. 

Sunday afternoon we can have a theory session:
Route planning; weather and avalanche forecasts, huts/camp sites, escape routes, which end to start the trip, river crossing, clothing and gear (including ice axe and crampons type).
Keeping dry.
Watching out for each other. Especially anyone who might be operating beyond their comfort level, or maybe suffering from fatigue, hunger, dehydration, illness, injury, cold, overheating, low morale, or who may be unsuitably garbed.
Snow shelters, tents/tarps etc, seeking shelter.
Hypothermia, cold injuries, sunburn, snow blindness.

Anything else.
Any suggestions or questions?        Pack up, cleaning, winterise, lock up and head to the car park.

Registration